India maintains 'No handshake' stance in match against Pak for Women's WC

Colombo: As India and Pakistan faced off on the cricket pitch once more, this time at the ICC Women's ODI World Cup, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur enforced the 'no handshake' policy in the group stage match against their arch-rivals at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

At the toss, neither India's captain, Harmanpreet, nor Pakistan's captain, Fatima Sana, took the initiative to exchange the customary pleasantries. After Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first against India, the two captains gave their respective interviews and then headed towards their dressing rooms.

This continues from the no-handshake protocol initiated by the Indian men's team during the recently concluded Men's Asia Cup 2025, where the Indian team did not shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts in all three matches of the tournament and then refused to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister of Pakistan.

India's decision was made amid deteriorating political relations with Pakistan, particularly following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The two teams faced each other three times in the tournament, including the final, but never shook hands, IANS reported.

Ahead of the Women's World Cup match, the two teams have contrasting results from their opening outings at the tournament. While India enters the game after a victory against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, Pakistan still seek their first points following a loss to Bangladesh in its opening fixture.

Both teams have played eleven times against each other in this format, with India emerging victorious on all occasions. The Harmanpreet-led side will be looking to extend its head-to-head record by winning Sunday's match.

Both teams have made one change to their playing XI from their previous outing. While pacer Renuka Singh Thakur comes in for Amanjot Kaur in India's lineup, Sadaf Shamas replaces Omaima Sohail for Pakistan.